I'm back in Portland. Home, home, home. Though I love me some NYC, I see why I escaped its jaws just a few years ago. Here's some of what I did on my visit: Visited with my beloved Grandparents, mamma cake, and aunt and uncle. Cooked them Italian inspired meals and avoided political conversations.

Sauntered along the abandoned boardwalk of Seaside Heights while sniffing salty Atlantic breeze.

Ran in circles around a giant suburb made for old people while singing this song.

Went to see West Side Story with my mother-love. Afterward we ate some high five-able foodstuff at David Chang's Ma Peche and luxuriated in a master suite.

Perused the garment district and got inspired to make myself a silken loin cloth.

Saw my dearest NY friends and their new and old family members.

Ate two incredible slices of pizza from Arturo's, a bagel and cream cheese, an egg and cheese on a roll, and a thick and fatty slice of Taylor's ham.

Looked at 5000 textile patterns and bounced in and out of the mall that is Manhattan for work work.

Met a hat masked mammal who gave me a medicinal loon and sunflower pyramid along with a bird sock clad mannequin leg. I gave the loon pyramid to my friend, kept the bird sock and left the leg in the hotel closet for the maid.